CARDIFF CITY boss Dave Jones praised his “magnificent” Bluebirds while accepting Craig Bellamy would hog all the derby headlines.

Bellamy’s 85th-minute scorcher settled the South Wales derby in Cardiff’s favour and avenged Swansea’s 1-0 win in the Welsh capital last November.

But Jones said the on-loan Bellamy – whose Liberty Stadium strike was his eighth league goal of the campaign – was only able to perform because of the quality around him.

“Craig’s been a massive signing for us as he’s a Premiership player, he showed that today and in other games he’s played for us,” said Jones.

“When you sign good players it either brings out the quality you have in that dressing room or players don’t reach that quality and fall by the wayside.

“Bringing in Craig gave everyone a lift and good players here enable him to be at his best.

“If we didn’t have those players he wouldn’t be able to perform to the best of his ability.

“It will all be about Craig over the next few days, but every player who went out and wore a blue shirt was magnificent.

“I’m proud of them because we did everything we asked of them and they did it quite well.”

Bellamy’s strike moved Cardiff into third place, eight points behind Championship leaders Queen Park Rangers with a game in hand.

But Jones said the chase was definitely on and the Bluebirds might hope to cut the gap this weekend with struggling Scunthorpe set to visit and top two QPR and Nottingham Forest clashing at Loftus Road.

“We’re looking to catch QPR and there’s a lot of football still to be played,” he said.

“They had a good result the other night, but it could have gone the other way.

“We spoke about keeping our run going and this win tightens it up at the top.”

Cardiff certainly seemed to have learned from past derby encounters by stifling Swansea both space and possession in midfield.

The end result was that Wales playmaker Aaron Ramsey was allowed to roam in dangerous areas and get straight at Swansea’s back four.

It meant that Cardiff – save for two scintillating Scott Sinclair second-half runs – carried the greater attacking threat, even if neither goalkeeper was over-employed.

“We kept pushing, sometimes too much because when it broke down there were massive gaps,” said Jones.

“It’s very difficult to contain our six advanced players sometimes because they all want to go forward.

“But we took the game to them and probably just edged it over the 90 minutes.

“We pushed them hard from start to finish, even though you know they’re going to have the ball and try and build from the back.

“Dekel Keinan came in for his debut and, though the derby is not an easy game to do that, I thought he was superb.

“We got it right and in the past we haven’t always done that against Swansea.”

Asked if both clubs could bring Premier League football to South Wales, Jones replied: “If we keep playing the way we have been playing, then there’s a very good chance both sides will be promoted.

“I would think over the last few years – certainly since Swansea’s heyday when John Toshack was in charge – this is the most stable both clubs have been and the best squads they’ve had.

“That’s a credit to both football clubs and, from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to see both clubs do it.”

But the last word fittingly belonged for a player whose winner will be replayed for as long as South Wales derby matches are played.

“I’ve got strikers likely to pull something out of the hat, but that will be one of Craig’s favourite goals in his collection,” said Jones.

“Wherever he’s played he’s been in the spotlight, but until you know him and work with him you see he’s not the person he’s portrayed to be.

“He just wants to do the best and be the best. If it doesn’t happen he’ll have his moan.

“But I guarantee you he’s not the biggest moaner in my dressing room. He’s probably about the fifth.”